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Records of the Observer newspaper, mainly dating from 1920s onwards. Includes: board minutes and papers; correspondence and subject files of managing directors; financial papers; staff files; correspondence and papers of Observer editors David Astor and Donald Trelford; picture desk prints and negatives; printing, circulation and distribution statements and television adverts.

Few documents relating to the Observer's early years are known to have survived and the majority of those that have survived remain within private collections. For example, the archive of JL Garvin (editor of the Observer 1908 - 1942) is held by the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center at the University of Texas.

Administrative/Biographical history: As befits the oldest Sunday newspaper in the world, the history of the Observer is a volatile and varied one. The paper was founded in 1791 by WS Bourne on the simple premise that "the establishment of a Sunday newspaper would obtain him a rapid fortune"; within three years Bourne found himself £1,600 in debt. Though early editions of advertisements for the paper promised a paper "Unbiased by Prejudice - Uninfluenced by Party...Whose Principal is Independence", Bourne attempted to cut his losses and sell the title to the government. They declined.

In its first century, the Observer was in varying degrees a scurrilous gossip sheet, government propaganda rag and provocative thorn-in-the-side of the establishment. Throughout the nineteenth century, however, the paper's character changed and came to reflect the more sober morality of the age.

In 1820 proprietor William Innell Clement defied a government ban on reporting proceedings against the Cato Street conspirators, refused to appear in court and left a £500 fine unpaid. This victory for the freedom of the press became characteristic of the paper in future years, and was typical of the Observer as it developed a reputation for serious coverage of politics and literature.

Some glamour was restored to the title by Frederick Beer, who installed his wife Rachel (Siegfried Sassoon's aunt) as editor in 1891. Under her control the paper achieved one of its greatest exclusives: the admission by Count Esterhazy that he had forged the letters that condemned innocent Jewish officer Captain Dreyfus to Devil's Island. The story provoked an international outcry and led to the release and pardon of Dreyfus and court martial of Esterhazy. She was a remarkable woman - not content with running one national newspaper, she managed to combine editing the Observer with the same job at the Sunday Times.

When the Observer entered the twentieth century, the paper was owned for a brief time by Lord Northcliffe, who appointed JL Garvin to the editorship. Garvin was a maverick Tory who contrived to edit the paper almost exclusively via a special telephone line installed between the newspaper office and his luxurious house in Beaconsfield.

It was not until 1948 that the paper became genuinely free from political allegiance, when David Astor was made proprietor and editor. Astor turned the paper into a trust-owned non-party publication and helped to establish its reputation as the voice of post-war liberal Britain. During this period many famous writers were on the staff, including George Orwell, Conor Cruise O'Brien, and more infamously Kim Philby.

Between 1977 and 1993 the paper was owned by two large international companies, first Atlantic Richfield and then 'Tiny' Rowland's company Lonrho. A controversial period in the paper's history reached its climax with the bitter battle between Rowland and Mohamed Al Fayed for control of the department store Harrods. When the Department of Trade and Industry published a damning report into the conduct of Mr Fayed, editor Donald Trelford took the momentous decision to print a midweek edition of the paper.

The birth of the Independent and subsequently its sister title The Independent on Sunday increased the pressure on the Observer in what was an already crowded Sunday broadsheet market, and when it became clear that the paper was for sale a merger between the two Sunday titles was mooted. Faced with the acquisition of a natural ally by a major competitor, the Guardian Media Group acquired the Observer in 1993. As a result the Observer has been able to maintain its editorial independence, ensuring the continuation of the paper's long-standing tradition of liberal politics and independent journalism.

The Observer has continued its reputation for setting, rather than following the news agenda, breaking stories including exposing the cash-for-access scandal dubbed Lobbygate, and leading the way in covering of issues like GM foods and cloning.
Roger Alton, editor 1998-2007, defined the paper's stance in the context of a long and varied history: "The Observer is Britain's oldest Sunday newspaper and it has been making mischief, poking its nose where it shouldn't and reporting the best in arts, culture, politics, sport, business and skulduggery for over two hundred years. We aim to keep it that way and maintain its position as Britain's most exciting Sunday newspaper."

On 8 January 2006 The Observer relaunched in a Berliner format becoming the UK's only full colour Sunday newspaper, and in 2007 The Observer was named national newspaper of the year at the British Press Awards.

In January 2008 John Mulholland was appointed editor of the Observer, replacing Roger Alton who had edited the paper since 1998. At the end of 2008 The Observer moved from its home in Herbal Hill, Farringdon, to new offices shared with the Guardian in King's Cross.
Creator: Publishers of The Observer Limited, fl.1907-1910
Creator: The Observer Limited, 1917-1993
Creator: Guardian News & Media Limited, 1967-

Letters and other papers accumulated and retained by WP Crozier and his family covering his career including his editorship of the Manchester Guardian. The collection also contains material concerning his literary works and commitments outside the Guardian.
The first file of the collection contains biographical material and focuses on documents relating to the first world war and Crozier's exemption from military service due to poor health.
The second file of the collection contains documents concerning Crozier's early career at the Guardian. It begins with documents detailing his initial appointment to the Guardian in 1903 after a brief spell working for The Times. At the Guardian Crozier began work for the sub-editors where his diverse range of interests helped him excel. The file includes correspondence with CP Scott who praises Crozier's work for the Guardian. At the end of 1912 Crozier became news editor (a new title at the Guardian). He was also instrumental in ensuring the Guardian kept pace with the changing face of journalism - introducing the women's pages and increasing the use of photographs within the paper. Crozier's responsibility on the Guardian increased with the outbreak of war in 1914. By 1921 he was made director of the company. Crozier had a massive influence on the production of the paper - he was involved in everything from introducing the crossword to presenting criminal trials. The file contains WP Crozier's correspondence with A Ransome from the early 1920s concerning difficulties in gaining entry to Russia and reporting on events there. There is also a photograph of WP Crozier from the latter end of this period, 1931.
The collection is then divided into a series of files all relating to WP Crozier's editorship of the Guardian which began officially on the 6 May 1932 following the death of Ted Scott in a boating accident. The first file in this series contains documents relating to Crozier's appointment as editor. There is a file of Crozier's general correspondence with Guardian staff focusing on staff management and editorial duties. During his editorship Crozier further developed the reputation of the Guardian for reporting foreign events. This was increasingly important as conflicts in Europe were slowly building to the second world war. A file of correspondence with W Eames contains much comment about general world events and there is a file of correspondence with FA Voigt, the foreign and diplomatic correspondent, which discusses European affairs leading up to the outbreak of the second world war. There is a further file of correspondence with individuals external to the Guardian, many of which are either politicians or staff from other newspapers. Again comment can be found amongst these documents concerning the outbreak of war. Further files relating to Crozier's time as editor include photographs and prints of the period and the speeches he gave as a part of his editorial duties.
WP Crozier did not limit his writing to journalism and published two novels; the first, the 'Letters of Pontius Pilate' was published in 1928 and the second, 'The Fates are Laughing', was published posthumously in 1945. The collection contains a file of documents and correspondence relating to these novels and includes a review of his second novel written by George Orwell.
Crozier also had many commitments outside the Guardian and the collection contains a series of files relating to these. One file contains documents and correspondence relating to WP Crozier's connection with the University of Manchester. He was a member of the Council, the Post-War Developments Committee and Chairman of the Athletics Committee at the university. The second file in this series contains an example of Crozier's freelance journalism. There is also a file containing documents relating to Crozier's other interests, including: the Liberal Party Convention Committee; the Historical Association of Manchester and the Reform Club in Manchester.
Towards the end of his twelve years in the editor's chair, Crozier began to have persistent heart problems. He was advised to rest but did not. He wrote his last leading article on the 14th April 1944. The collection contains a series of files relating to Crozier's legacy. The first contains press cuttings from the Guardian and the Manchester Evening News. It includes leaders, tributes, messages of sympathy, and reports of the funeral. The second file is a large collection of correspondence to Mrs Crozier expressing sympathy at Crozier's death and the third file contains messages of condolence written to James Bone.

Administrative/Biographical history: Born in Stanhope, Durham in 1879 Crozier was educated at the Manchester Grammar School and subsequently won a scholarship to Trinity College, Oxford - commencing 1898.

After leaving university, Crozier worked as a teacher for a year, before a brief spell at the Times newspaper. At the end of September 1903 he began working for the Guardian. Crozier began work for the sub-editors where his diverse range of interests helped him excel. He was particularly praised for his work on the Russo-Japanese war. At the end of 1912 Crozier became news editor for the paper. He was also instrumental in ensuring the newspaper kept pace with the changing face of journalism - introducing the women's pages and increasing the use of photographs within the paper.

Crozier's responsibility on the Guardian increased with the outbreak of war in 1914. By 1921 he was made director of the company. In April 1932 Crozier replaced ET Scott as editor.

At the Guardian Crozier built up a team of foreign writers while he was a deputy editor, but under his editorial position the foreign department of the newspaper grew in reputation. This was increasingly important as conflicts in Europe were slowly building to the second world war. He often wrote articles himself with a powerful and concise style.

Crozier was known for appearing cold and sceptical, but was extremely passionate about liberal politics. He reflected his views within the Guardian, promoting the League of Nations and attacking Hitler's anti-semitic policies before it was popular to do so.

Towards the end of his twelve years in the editors chair, Crozier began to have persistent heart problems. He was advised to rest but did not. He wrote his last leading article on the 14th April 1944.
Creator: Crozier, William Percival (1879-1944); newspaper editor